6.7.1 Outline of energy models

An energy model is a mathematical model that expresses energy systems. Since energy systems including primary energy production, energy transportation, and energy conversion are complicated, it is difficult to get intuit insight about the desired energy system. Using the energy model they can analyze an economic energy systems and energy structure in the future.

An energy model is divided into two kinds that are a simulation type and an optimized type. The simulation type is a type that assembles energy system composition in the future deductively from the initial condition of the energy system and various kinds of exogenous assumptions such as future population and economic growth rates.

The optimization type is a type that uses mathematical optimization technique and finds the optimal energy system under exogenous constraints. The typical optimal standards are minimization of energy system cost and maximization of total consumption in the society. The typical exogenous constraints are energy resource constraints and data of energy conversion technologies.